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But isn't it kinda crazy to risk 17k just for a 3k return?

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This is the part that bothers me the most.

Also, putting my whole tourney on the line with Q9s just doesn't sit well with me. I'm not in great shape with only 6BB but I'm not in terrible shape either. Especially when I have the luxury of several free deals before the blinds get to me again.

My reasoning at the time was that 11-15th paid the same so there was absolutely no difference in getting busted out now or 11th. So rather than be a survivalist now was the time to try and accumulate.

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I think that the point here is that you only have to push one person out of the pot, and you've got a reasonably playable hand with which to do it. The push doesn't have to succeed much for it to be the right move. It doesn't matter that Q9s isn't usually a premium hand: this time it certainly is.

If you you wait, well, you might look down and see a premium hand later in the orbit, but it's not likely. You're probably going to have to push with KJo or A-x or another mediocre hand, but you'll have to push while there are many more people still to act.

Mentioning that 11-15 pays the same makes your decision here even easier. You have to play to get above 11th. Hanging on by your fingernails till you get blinded out in 12th place doesn't matter. You need to start picking up blinds here. You're on a low M, so you ideally want to a) get your money in 1st, and b) get it in with the lowest number of players to act after you. With a) being more important than b) in my opinion. Both of these are easily satisfied here. PUSH!